Owl Tag Along – Moda Sliced Finals

Secret Dreams

Oh my goodness! Thank you everyone for your support so far! I am beyond tired. Not only was this the final week for the Moda Sliced Competition, but life continues to move on. My 2 year old chose this week to get sick for the first time in months (and now we’re getting it) and we’re remodeling our new home that we will move into in a couple of weeks. (when I pull myself together I’ll get some pics of that! My sewing room shelf has one coat of the blue paint!!!)

Yup. Just a little busy. 😉

But on to my final entry for the Moda Sliced Competition. This week we were given the choice of what to make. And boy did that throw me for a loop. Just a little bit of pressure. We also had to make sure that we included Layer cake pieces (10″ x 10″ squares of fabric), a zipper and grommets/eyelets. I heard those requirements and knew that I needed to make a bag. And from there the craziness began.

With only 5 days from start to finish to design, make and photograph our entries, you need to able to make decisions quickly. I thought of this idea early on but then got distracted by a bunch of other ideas for a couple of days. I finally regained my senses and came back to the project that I knew was right for ME.

Owl Tag Along

This toddler backpack has all the requirements met and then some. It is lined with laminated fabric (from Kate Spain’s Terrain line) to be completely cleanable and toddler proof. It is also made with Insul-Bright batting to be cold and heat resistant, so it is perfect for food and drinks. There are a couple of simple pockets for small items…but I know my toddler and she’s just going to throw things in the bag, so I knew it didn’t need to be too elaborate in the interior.

Owl Tag Along

Zipper and lining details.

Owl Tag Along

So, it’s fabulously functional but I’ll admit that the exterior is probably my favorite part. There are expandable side pockets made from mesh with a casing made from Sweetwater’s Sunkissed fabric (a layer cake piece!). I used eyelets, cording and double cord stops to make the pockets easy to use. They are perfect for a sippy cup. 😉

Owl Tag Along

The back pack is made with comfortable fabric straps that are fully adjustable to grow with your toddler. It fit my daughter perfectly! And she was quite pleased with it.

Owl Tag Along

The bag is piped for extra stability and made with a durable twill fabric (from It’s a Hoot by Momo). There is a nylon cord strap that makes this bag easy to hang in place by your toddler, and the contrast pink zipper with ribbon pull tab is the icing on the very sweet cake.

Owl Tag Along

But oh the Owl! I saved that for last when I was making it because I just wanted to have fun by that point. All of the technical designing was out of the way and I could focus on creating something functional but oh so whimsical.

Owl Tag Along

The belly pocket is made from two Sherbet pips layer cake pieces for a sweet front pocket. And the wings are made from a layer cake piece from Wee Woodland by Keiki and only attached at the top of each wing to make them fully “flapable”. The face is made from one Bella solid layer cake piece in snow, some left over French General for the eyes and a small piece of Kate Spain’s central park for the nose. The eyes and nose are made the way I do my doll quilts with a fusible and top stitching. The fabric for the eyes is less than 1/8″.

Owl Tag Along

What does an Owl say Caitlyn? “Whooo!”

Owl Tag Along

So there it is. Finished. Turned in. And now in the judges hands. But I’m proud of this and my design. It took a lot of mental energy to get here and a lot of sewing techniques were used (I think I used 5 different feet on my sewing machine for this!). But I gave everything that I could and feel confident knowing that. I’m almost tempted to remake it in Navy and Kelly Green for a  little boy….almost. 😉

Now we just need to wait until tomorrow night.

Owl backpack

49 thoughts on “Owl Tag Along – Moda Sliced Finals”

  1. We have to have a sewing weeekend, where I will make this bag, and you can just be there to help with new techniques as necessary. This bag is so wonderful in so many ways…fabric choices, sweetness, function… not just for the little model wearing it! 🙂 (though she helps)
    And I meant it about dibs on the shoes when she outgrows them. 😉

  2. Oh Angela! It's perfect! And of course, we want to see a boy version too (a whale, maybe??), you know, after your feeling better and moved and caught your breath and everything ;).

  3. You've really outdone yourself on this one. I love it. I would love one for my daughter, but I'm not sure I'd be willing to make it. That looks like it was A LOT of work. Way to go! You've done a great job as always.

  4. That is absolutely beautiful! You are so talented. Your little girl is too precious 🙂 And I think you definitely have to make a little boy version. Best of luck with the finals!

  5. Angela, this is just too much! You continue to amaze me! I should have known that something was up when the second project after you learned to sew was your junior prom dress–with stays — no less!

  6. I love this and I can't wait until it is a tutorial on Moda. I have liked a lot of the patterns but I have a little girl who would love this bag and I know that there are a number of her friends who would love one too. This is an awesome projects, well done and I really hope that you win.

  7. This is so cute! And you did such a great job on the sewing. And by the way-you couldn't have had a cuter model. Pat yourself on the back with both hands for a job well done.

  8. Great photos, your model is the cutest. She pulls this all together. You really out did your self on this. It is nothing short of fantastic. Your little model will remember for years the many things you make for her and what an impression it will leave. Good for you!!!!
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    1. Thank you so much for your sweet comment! I do hope that she knows all the fun things I make for her and looks back on that fondly in the years to come. I dread the day where she hates something I make her. But I know that's pretty common. 😉

  9. This is just amazing! It's so creative and technical and the same time, not to mention gorgeous. Great job! You deserve a break after all this. And CONGRATULATIONS! I just saw on the Moda site that you won – you definitely deserve it. Hope you have fun with all the goodies coming your way! Well done 🙂

  10. Just saw that you were declared the winner — CONGRATS! This backpack is super adorable. I will not be showing the picture to my two kidlets or they will demand that I make one for each of them instantly. 🙂 Beautiful work as usual!

  11. Sheesh, no wonder you won! I just saw this now. Amazing! So well constructed and so darn cute. I do think your girlie helped you win too. I mean, how could there be a better model?

  12. I wanted to thank you for this beautiful backpack and tutorial — the tutorial was detailed enough for a novice to follow. I made one for my daughter’s first day of preschool, and she LOVES it.

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